Day 29 – Q. 1. “It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong.” – Jeremy Bentham. What do you understand by the above quote? Bring out its significance in the context of public policy making. (150 words, 10 marks)

  • IASbaba
  • July 6, 2025
  • 0
Ethics Theory, TLP-UPSC Mains Answer Writing

Q. 1. “It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong.” – Jeremy Bentham. What do you understand by the above quote? Bring out its significance in the context of public policy making. (150 words, 10 marks)


Introduction 

Jeremy Bentham, the founder of classical utilitarianism, proposed a teleological moral  framework that evaluates actions based on their outcomes, specifically in terms of the  happiness or welfare they generate for the majority.  

Body 

“Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and  Body pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do.” – Jeremy Bentham.

Body Explanation of the Quote 

The quote means that moral rightness depends solely on the utility or benefit an action  provides to the largest number of people. It shifts the moral compass from individual virtue  to consequential outcomes, emphasizing measurable well-being over abstract ideals.  

Significance in Policy Making 

  1. Guides Welfare-Oriented Decisions: Policies prioritizing public health, education, and  social security directly follow this utilitarian principle.  Example: The National Food Security Act aims to ensure nutrition for over two-thirds of  India’s population.
  2. Democratic Legitimacy: In a democracy, prioritizing the majority’s welfare provides  ethical and political validation to governance.  
  3. Resource Allocation Efficiency: Encourages distribution of limited resources to benefit  the largest number.  Example: Prioritizing rural electrification projects over non-essential urban luxuries.
  4. Moral Grounding for Compromise: Offers a reasoned method to resolve policy  dilemmas by maximizing collective happiness.  Example: COVID-19 lockdowns prioritized saving lives over short-term economic  interests.
  5. Evaluative Tool for Public Servants: Guides bureaucrats to assess policy impact in terms  of societal benefit.  

Limitations / Counter-Arguments 

  1. May undermine minority rights : Prioritizing majority welfare can suppress or neglect  marginalized communities.  Example: Displacement of tribal communities for dam projects in the name of larger  energy benefits.
  2. Ethical dilution in implementation: Overemphasis on aggregate outcomes may  compromise justice and human dignity.  Example: Quota reductions for efficiency may marginalize historically disadvantaged  groups.
  3. Predictive uncertainty: Consequentialist decisions rely on outcomes that are not always  foreseeable.  Example: A large infrastructure project might appear beneficial but create unforeseen  environmental damage.
  4. Ignores moral duty: Deontological ethics like Kant’s emphasize doing what is right  irrespective of the outcome.  Example: Mass surveillance may ensure safety but violate citizens’ rights.

Conclusion 

Bentham’s teleological utilitarianism provides a practical, outcome-based lens for policy making. However, ethical governance demands that this approach be balanced with  constitutional safeguards—such as justice, inclusivity, and respect for individual rights—to  ensure holistic welfare in a pluralistic society. 

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